scatter

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1

Definition

to go or cause a group to go in many separate ways suddenly, so that the members are no longer near each other.

Example

Vikram dropped the tray of glasses, and everyone scattered to avoid the broken pieces.

intransitive: people scatter = move apart quickly

A loud bang from the construction site scattered the birds resting on the roof.

transitive: scatter + noun phrase = make something move apart

Common collocations

scatter the crowd
scatter the birds
scatter in all directions
scatter to safety

Synonyms

disperse
more formal; suggests a planned or controlled breaking apart, whereas scatter is sudden and random
spread out
phrasal verb; suggests gradual expansion rather than quick movement in all directions
break up
informal; focuses on a group ceasing to be together

Antonyms

gather
to bring together what was scattered
collect
to bring things into one place

Grammar Patterns

scatter + noun phrase (transitive — cause to move apart)

noun phrase + scatter (intransitive — move apart)

Usage Note

Commonly used intransitively without an object, especially for groups of people or animals ('the crowd scattered'). The transitive form requires a direct object that is a group, not a single person or thing.

Common Mistakes

I scattered the pen on the table.

I scattered the papers on the table.

'scatter' needs a plural or group object; a single item cannot be scattered.

2.verbtransitiveB1

Definition

to place or release several objects onto a surface so that they land separately at different points, not all together in one spot.

Example

Élise scattered fresh flower petals along the path before the outdoor wedding ceremony.

scatter + noun + along/over/on + surface

The gardener scattered grass seed over the dry patches of the lawn.

Common collocations

scatter seeds
scatter petals
scatter ashes
scatter across the floor
scatter over the ground

Synonyms

sprinkle
used for small particles or drops; suggests a lighter, finer distribution
strew
more literary; can imply a messy or careless distribution
spread
more general; does not suggest randomness or unevenness

Antonyms

gather
to collect things that have been spread out
pile
to put things into a single heap

Grammar Patterns

scatter + noun phrase + over/on/across + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often passive ('be scattered') when describing where things are located across an area. The object describes the things spread out, and a prepositional phrase ('over', 'along', 'across') gives the location.

Common Mistakes

I scattered the room with flowers.

I scattered flowers around the room.

The surface/location follows a preposition, not as the direct object.

1.nounB2

Definition

the action of throwing or dropping things so that they spread out and cover an area, rather than staying in one pile.

Example

The scatter of the seeds was done by hand before the invention of seed drills.

the scatter of + noun = the action of spreading

The sudden scatter of the pigeons startled the tourists sitting in the square.

Common collocations

the scatter of seeds
the scatter of ashes

Synonyms

dispersal
formal; used for groups of people or living things moving apart

Grammar Patterns

the scatter of + noun

Usage Note

Typically appears in the fixed pattern 'the scatter of + noun' to describe the process. More commonly replaced by 'scattering' in everyday speech ('the scattering of seeds').

2.nounB2

Definition

a small number of things or people that are spread out over an area rather than gathered close together.

Example

There was a scatter of old stone houses at the edge of the mountain village.

a scatter of + noun = a small, spread-out number

A scatter of applause came from the back of the hall after the pianist finished.

Common collocations

a scatter of houses
a scatter of stars
a scatter of applause

Synonyms

handful
focuses on small quantity rather than spread-out pattern
sprinkling
suggests a light, thin distribution, similar to scatter

Antonyms

crowd
a large, dense number of people gathered together
mass
a large, dense collection without gaps

Grammar Patterns

a scatter of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Always appears with the indefinite article 'a' followed by 'of' — 'a scatter of + plural noun'. This sense describes the distribution pattern, not a precise quantity.

3.nounC1

Definition

the condition of being spread out over a wide area rather than gathered together in one place.

Example

The scatter of the island's villages made it expensive to build roads between them.

the scatter of + plural noun = condition of being spread out

The scatter of metal pieces across the field after the explosion slowed the search.

Common collocations

the scatter of villages
the scatter of debris
the scatter of population

Synonyms

dispersion
formal term from science; describes how spread out things are
distribution
neutral; focuses on arrangement across an area

Antonyms

concentration
the state of being gathered densely in one place
clustering
the state of forming tight groups

Grammar Patterns

the scatter of + plural noun

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (ACT OF SCATTERING): this sense describes the result or condition after scattering has happened, not the action itself. Distinguish from sense 2 (SMALL AMOUNT): this sense focuses on the wide distribution pattern rather than the number of items.

Word family

scattered
adjectiveB1
scattering
nounB1
scatters
verbB1
scatterbrain
nounC1
scatterbrained
adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Scatter, disperse, spread out, dissipate, and break up all describe a group or collection becoming less concentrated, but they differ in the kind of movement and tone. Scatter is the most physical and sudden — it suggests things flying in many directions, often from a single trigger like a loud noise or a quick action. Disperse is more formal and often implies a controlled or natural process, such as a crowd dispersing at the end of an event. Spread out describes gradual expansion without the sense of urgency — a group spreading out across a park, for instance. Dissipate usually applies to intangible things like fog, anger, or doubt, and suggests something gradually fading away. Break up is the most informal and specifically refers to a group or gathering ceasing to exist as a unit. For a sudden, chaotic movement in all directions, use scatter; for a calm, natural separation, use disperse or spread out.

dispersespread out ↗dissipatebreak up ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

seeds
petals
ashes
debris
houses
villages

Adverbs

Phrases

in all directions
to the winds
far and wide

Prepositions

Etymology

Old NorseOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Scatter comes from Middle English 'scateren', which developed from Old English 'sceaterian' — a word related to Old Norse 'skattr' (meaning tribute or tax) and German 'schütten' (to pour). The original idea was of throwing or shaking something so that the parts separate and fly in different directions. Over time, the word also took on the gentler meaning of sprinkling or spreading things out on a surface.

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scatter

scatter — verb

1. to go or cause a group to go in many separate ways suddenly, so that the members

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to place or release several objects onto a surface so that they land separately

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

scatter — noun

1. the action of throwing or dropping things so that they spread out and cover an a

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

2. a small number of things or people that are spread out over an area rather than

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

3. the condition of being spread out over a wide area rather than gathered together

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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